Artist of the Week: Sarah Beth Woods

What is most remarkable about the creative process is how it represents a culmination of all life experiences while filtering them through the artists current surroundings. The artist takes events, images, colors, theme, from through out their lives and brings them to the canvas through a brush that is tempered in the moment. It allows for completely unique creations, and exciting new possibilities everyday.

The work of Chicago artist Sarah Beth Woods is the perfect example of nature, on every level, influencing creativity. From her unique view of flowers to her exploration of science, both internal and external, Sarah paints in what could be considered defined abstraction or maybe even structured abstraction. A graduate of NIU, Sarah has shown her work all over Chicago and Dekalb, but should be getting more attention nationwide and hopefully our conversation will help that effort in some way.

Orange Alert (OA): How would you describe your work?
Sarah Beth Woods (SBW): My paintings and drawings are inspired by biomorphic forms. I work intuitively to create abstracted natural forms, where the outcome is both familiar and unspecific. I enjoy the way the shapes interact with each other, the areas where they touch; lean, protrude, or overlap. I am interested in juxtaposing the organic versus inorganic, and the abstract dialogue that develops between them. I like creating exotic shapes like those made by deflated balloons, cacti, and foliage, while exploring the limitless possibility for growth and change. Some of the things that inspire my work include botany, aquatic plants and sea life, scientific illustration, landforms, pattern, and vivid color.

OA: From what I have seen on your website you tend to utilize an interesting mix of colors in your work, pieces will be filled with black or gray and then have splashes of bright pink. How do you select your colors and how important are these contrasting colors to your work?
SBW: The colors I use are taken directly from my subject matter. During the summer I paint bright exotic colors like those created by blooming flowers. The more recent “earthy” works came about after spending a week in the forests of Southern Ohio at the Harold Arts Residency. The insects and fungi I saw out there were straight out of a Science fiction movie. Giant yellow and red centipedes and blue mushrooms!

OA: The concept of Biomorphic Art is fascinating. Now you say you work intuitively, so how does biology and nature seep into your work?
SBW: Growing up, my mother was an avid gardener and floral designer. I was constantly surrounded by plants and brightly patterned fabrics. I also would spend summers in the fields, forests, and streams of Northern Wisconsin. I have been teaching Science for two years now, so I think it is inevitable that biology and nature surface in my work.

OA: You graduated from NIU, what were you able to take away from your time there?
SBW: I had such a great experience at Northern Illinois University. They teach all the traditional drawing techniques so you learn a lot of technical skill. The professors are great and really involved in the Chicago art scene which has helped me to make a lot of connections.

OA: Is Chicago a great place to be an artist? What are your thoughts on the Chicago scene in general?
SBW: Chicago has great museums, galleries and alternative spaces. I really like some of the apartment galleries like Mini Dutch. As far as printmaking goes, Happy Dog Gallery and Spudnik Press throw really great print shows. There’s a really cool community of people and you don’t get the snobbery that sometimes comes with the gallery scene.

OA: What's next for Sarah Beth Woods?
SBW: In the fall of 2009 I’ll be working towards an MFA in painting at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Lately I’ve been painting plants and landforms and then collaging them on top of one another. Eventually I hope to experiment with time lapse video.

Bonus questions:

OA: If you could sit down to coffee with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be?
SBW: If I could sit down to coffee with anyone (alive or dead) it would be either: Tom Waits, Jane Addams, or Michael Pollan the science writer. Also, I would like to sit down with Michael Pollan and his
wife Judith Belzer (the painter) and discuss the connections between
their work.

OA: What type of music do you enjoy and who are a few of your favorites?
SBW: I love all kinds of music! Lately I’ve been heavy into Reggae- mainly this group called the Ethiopians. Some of my other faves include: Delta Blues, and old R&B, Tom Waits, Bill Callahan, and Andrew Bird.

For more information on Sarah Beth Woods please visit her website.